In the late 1800’s, Okmulgee was a small town in Indian Territory. Its population was around 400, mostly Native. Oakwood Cemetery, nestled on five acres of Native land was located just south of town on Thirteenth Street and South Morton. The cemetery sits on a hilltop overlooking the Deep Fork bottoms to the south. The earliest gravestone in the cemetery is dated 1877 and the last is 1947. The cemetery was deeded to the city of Okmulgee on March 10, 1903. Today it is inactive but maintained by the City of Okmulgee.  

   In 1904, oil was discovered just south and east of Morris, Indian Territory. That discovery was the beginning of the oil boom in and around Okmulgee, Indian Territory. In 1906, the population of the area had grown to 4,000, and by the time of statehood in 1907 Okmulgee, Oklahoma had over 6,000 residents. The Oakwood Cemetery was nearing capacity.

   With the discovery of oil and the beginning of the oil boom in Okmulgee, the town was growing exponentially. Okmulgee was starting to be more than just a community of one-horse buggies. With each passing year, more oil was discovered which drew many speculators and businessmen. Discussion by members of a local garden club led to exploring the possibility of a larger community cemetery, since the Oakwood Cemetery wasn’t very large and soon would not be able to accommodate more graves.  Thus was the beginning of Okmulgee Cemetery.

   On July 9, 1909, eighty-nine acres were purchased three miles south of town for the purpose of a larger community cemetery, and this is where it remains today. The first burial was John H. Bohlken on November 10, 1909. The cemetery is located between Highway 75 on the west and the Frisco, now Burlington, railroad tracks on the east. Also, merging with Woodlawn Cemetery on the east. The southern boundary is now South 36th Street and the northern boundary is now the Dan Morgan Baseball Park.  The original charter, signed in 1909, is hanging in the cemetery office. The name of the corporation is “The Okmulgee Cemetery Association, Inc.” The original name of the cemetery was “Memorial Park Cemetery”. The official name today is “Okmulgee Cemetery”.